Leadership Development Manager

Location: This hybrid role requires 3 days on-site at our Burnaby, BC office and 2 days remote per week.

Welcome to Specsavers – where we’re not just about eyewear and eyecare, but about changing lives through better sight. Ranked the 11th Best Workplace™ in Canada and 16th globally by Great Place to Work®, we’re proud of our optometrist-owned model that delivers high-quality, accessible eyecare for every budget.

Founded 40 years ago in the UK by visionary optometrists Doug and Mary Perkins, Specsavers has remained privately owned since day one. Today, we are a $7.8 billion global business with over 45,000 colleagues across more than 2,700 retail optical locations.

In Canada, our support office is based in Burnaby, BC. Since entering the market in 2021, we’ve been scaling rapidly, now with nearly 200 locations nationwide. With advanced clinical equipment and a wide range of affordable, high-quality eyewear, we’re transforming the way Canadians experience eyecare.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a values-driven organization, join us as we continue to grow. Together, we can change lives through better sight.

What You’ll Do

The Leadership Development Manager (internally called 'Partnership Development Manager') plays a key role in supporting the Head of Partner Development to enable a structured leadership development framework that guides both new and existing Store Partners — the independent business owners who run Specsavers locations — as they join and grow within the Canadian Specsavers network.

This framework is designed to drive each Partner’s success and growth in their store. It also ensures that the induction process strengthens their alignment with Specsavers’ brand objectives — especially our unique approach to People and Customers in the Canadian optical industry.

The role places a strong emphasis on fostering regular engagement through meaningful leadership and training interventions — both between Store Partners and Specsavers and among Partners themselves. This helps cultivate a shared sense of purpose and momentum toward the common goal of delivering an industry-leading customer experience. It also contributes to building work environments that attract top talent and reinforce Specsavers as an employer of choice.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of Partner Development (PD) activities across all Canadian provinces, ensuring alignment with business objectives and regional needs.
• Manage and drive Partner participation in PD activities throughout the year
• Collaborate with Instructional Designers to support the creation, design, and implementation of impactful Partner Development webinars, face to face workshops, and online modules.
• Lead and manage the New Partner Onboarding experience for all new Partners joining Specsavers Canada, ensuring a smooth and effective integration into New Store ownership.
• Cultivate and coordinate a "Pay-it-Forward" culture through Partner Development activities and engagement events, fostering collaboration and shared success.
• Build and maintain close relationships with Partner Development Managers across other markets in ANZ, UK and Northern Europe. Ensure the sharing of best practice, development materials and initiatives to ensure the Partners in Canada are exposed to as wide a development and engagement plans as possible

New Partner Onboarding and Induction:

• Collaborate with the RST and the Partner Recruitment Team to ensure a smooth transition and handoff from recruitment to the business, helping Partners integrate into their new store environment.
• Lead the delivery of the New Partner Development Program within province, coordinating with RRMs and CSCs to drive engagement among new Partners.
• Provide feedback to the Retail Support Team regarding Partner engagement with program content, and sign off on completed learning modules.
• Support the Head of Partner Development in the ongoing review and evaluation of the Partner Onboarding and Induction Journey, ensuring it remains relevant, effective, and up to date.
• Develop and implement tools, resources, and materials to support new Partners throughout their Onboarding and Induction period, ensuring a seamless experience.
• Take full ownership of the New Partner Induction framework, ensuring all deliverables are met and actions are carried out by the responsible departments on schedule.
• Continuously enhance and expand the development tools, opportunities, and resources available to new Partners prior to their store opening.
• Facilitate positive connections and hands-on learning experiences between new Partners and their stores through buddy relationships and experienced Partner mentoring, fostering activity.
• Actively encourage and support established Partners in developing mentoring relationships with new Partners, enhancing their integration into the business and contributing to their success.

What We’re Looking For

• Adult Learning & Instructional Design – experience in adult learning principles and curriculum design as well as an experienced and accomplished facilitator
• Experience in leading change initiatives and managing transitions in a dynamic, multi-location business
• Digital Learning Tools - Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS) and other digital training tools to support remote or hybrid learning environments
• Ability to manage multi-faceted projects across various stakeholders, ensuring that training initiatives align with broader business objectives
• Comfort with using metrics and feedback to refine training programs and measure success
• Skills in empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution to better support and influence leaders through personal coaching and mentorship
• Frequent travel within Alberta, Manitoba and across Canada
• Ability to build strong personal and meaningful business relationships to influence and challenge on the right business outcomes
• Ability to communicate effectively and at all levels, and adapt communication style to suit audience and engage and present in a variety of different forums

Nice to have:

• Franchise industry experience ideal but not required

Compensation: $97,000 - $106,000 base salary, plus quarterly bonus, profit sharing, and benefits. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience

Speccies’ Benefits

• 4 weeks of vacation and 1 paid volunteer day
• 1 extra paid day off and an eyecare voucher on your birthday
• RRSP matching
• Quarterly performance bonus
• Profit sharing program
• Healthcare spending account
• Health and dental benefits effective on your first day
• Team and company social events

Behaviours We Value

• Collaborative: We work together as one Specsavers to deliver our purpose
• Curious: We question, explore, and seek out diverse perspectives to develop our knowledge and understanding
• Courageous: We challenge the status quo, we experiment with good ideas, and we are brave, bold, and fast in our decision making
• Compassionate: We care, support, and help each other
• Commercial: We treat money wisely and make decisions that are good for our customers, our partners, our people, and good for the long term

We hope that in applying with us, you value these things as well!

Our Hybrid Work Model

Experience the best of both worlds. At Specsavers, we embrace a hybrid approach that balances in-office collaboration with the flexibility to work from home. We come together in office three days a week to connect, innovate, and keep our culture thriving.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Specsavers, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that a diverse team enriches our work environment and enables us to achieve our goals. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage candidates of all backgrounds and abilities to apply. If you believe you can contribute to our mission and vision, we welcome your application, even if you don't meet every qualification listed. We value the unique skills and perspectives each individual brings to our team.

Accessibility and Accommodations

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know by contacting us at careers.ca@specsavers.com . We will work with you to meet your needs and ensure a fair and equitable experience.